composition

Showing 31 - 40 of 44 results in composition

Need Comp and Improv Ideas

I have been teaching SM for about two months now and I am already struggling to think of composition and improv projects for my students. Besides using the LH and changing up the RH and of course the ideas on the TTMs I really don’t…

Composition or Improvisation?

I am wondering if some of us use the words “composition” and “improvisation” interchangeably. My understanding is that only if it is written it is a composition. Is this correct? So when teachers email about “composition” with pre-reading students, do they actually mean “improvisation” or…

Looking for Comp & Improv Ideas

I am looking for comp and improv ideas? Anyone have any that they would like to share? I am so pleased you have asked about this. It is an area I struggle with also. I often ask them to take a simple right hand (dog is…

Comp and Improvisation Chord Ideas

I had a bit of a revelation over the past two weeks that I thought might be helpful to some teachers regarding composition and improvisation. I have always approached Comp & Improv from the 3 note song and going from there, and it works well.…

Comp & Improv on Playlist?

My son is in lessons with another Simply Music teacher.  He continually improvises at home, but steadfastly refuses to like very many of his songs enough to put them on his playlist. Then they disappear, and only his family has heard them. I wonder if…

The Triangle Game

I wanted to share a game I created, (quite by accident, actually) that is extremely easy to make, well-loved by students and quite versatile. I was wanting to make a grab bag for students as they were working on transposition – i.e. pull a chord…

Traditional Students Learning Comp & Improv


I am a newly licensed SM teacher. I have been teaching traditionally for over 30 years. I am very excited to start teaching the SM method and especially the comp and improv program to my students that are switching over to SM. That was my…

Advanced Student in Groups

I have just had a call from an adult student with 10 years traditional background as a child, who, since seeing more advanced students playing at the my first recent piano concert, she is eager to get ahead and move faster with the program, feeling…

Unfolding Comp/Improv, Arrangements, Accompaniment

I’m wondering about how to bring in Composition/Improvisation, Accompaniments, and Arrangements 1 for my students? I’m a pretty new teacher and my most advanced students are starting Amazing Grace in Foundation 1. When do I start to introduce these other programs? How much of each…

Experienced Student with Beginners?

Got a call from someone who has a masters in Composition, knows how to read sheet music, knows chords, and is looking especially for improvisational freedom in playing. She feels she composes in her head, not her hands, and she wants to get more “in…